By Tom Gudekunst & the MARCO Ideas Unlimited Swag Review Team
Choosing the right swag items to give away as appreciation gifts is crucial to making the best impression on new leads, first time customers, and loyal clients. Gifting a promotional product that truly wows your recipient creates an instant connection - and increases the likelihood that they'll become repeat buyers!
Have you considered how making an investment into intentionally sourced, higher-quality swag items could raise your brand's perceived value among your audience, leading to more long-term sales?
Our President and Sales Specialist of more than 20 years Tom Gudekunst was recently struck by how effectively a customer appreciation swag kit he saw in the wild was put together, and shares his thoughts on how these item selections are tailored for maximum marketing impact and ensuring client loyalty.
Tom says:
"Sometimes companies go above and beyond to secure their client’s enduring affection, and this is a really great example that was shared with me this morning by my brother in-law...
He’s a big time cigar smoker and has recently gotten in to buying whole boxes of the ones he knows he likes and loading up his humidor out in the man cave. The good folks over at Camacho Cigars sent him all of this with his last order and I’ve got to say, looks like some pretty quality stuff to me!
The heavy all-metal jet lighter, the nice snapback cap, the really fancy cigar cutter and huge party style ash tray... If I had to guess I’d say this kit is probably worth somewhere around $150-$175 and he told me his box of cigars was only $120. WOW!
I’m sure his love of Camacho Cigars will be fortified by this stuff, not to mention I’m sure he’s already wearing the hat around acting like a walking billboard.
The one thing I would have any gripe about is that the embroidery on the cap looks like it could’ve been done better... but that’s a really difficult logo to capture through embroidery. They did use a nice hat style, and had the foresight to not add text to the front of it which makes it way more retail oriented and wearable.
I’m sure my bro bro’s friends will ask “Hey, what’s with the awesome scorpion hat”? which will then give him a reason to expound on his delight in Camacho Cigars as well as the lovely gift kit they sent him.
Do this kind of swag gifting and your company will for sure lock up the everlasting fondness of your clients.
P.S. On a phone conversation with “Brobro, my lion” I got a little more information about his awesome kit.
Evidently the SWAG was part of a promotion from the online cigar distributor website he buys from, Cigars Daily. This is a great way for Wholesalers to create buzz for their Distributors who work hard to sell more and more product. The Wholesaler creates and ships the goods directly to the Distributor and they send a kit out with each qualifying order. That makes the distributor look like a generous hero and helps the wholesaler to gain more “shelf space”. Pretty cool! "
We hope that this quick testimonial from one of our most seasoned swag specialists has given you ideas for how to really impress your customers with swag gifts. If you need extraordinary custom gift kits, let our team of promotional product experts do the work to put them together for you! Since 1959, we've been helping companies in all industries create the best promotional products for their specific brand guidelines, event types, and budgets. We'd love to share our creative ideas for your branded merchandise needs!
Tom Gudekunst has helped organizations customize the best promotional products for their unique industry and audience since 2005. He achieved his Certified Advertising Specialist designation in 2012. He enjoys spending time with his family, including two children, his wife, and their adorable dog Ruger.